The Blog

It’s been chilly and wet in Central Florida lately, but that hasn’t stopped progress on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. For this week’s edition of PotterWatch, we’ll start with the recent removal of Lost Continent games in Islands of Adventure, then take a look at the latest Diagon Alley construction in Universal Studios. Finally, we’ll finish with the newest rumor about Hogwarts Express testing.

The spaces that were formerly filled with ring-tosses and plush prizes will now be used as back-of-house break areas and storage.

This spy shot shows the empty interior of one of the former game booths.

UPDATE: The games building were suddenly demolished earlier this week! Check out @touringplans on Twitter for the latest photos.

Diagon Alley and London Waterfront

A panoramic pic from the King’s Cross end of the Wizarding World

And another from the opposite end.

Other than the addition of identifying signage on the outside of some London Waterfront facades, there’s been little notable external progress on the Diagon Alley expansion in Universal Studios Florida.

A look across the lagoon from Duff Gardens towards Diagon Alley

Authentic English weather over the London waterfront.

No mistaking King’s Cross Station now that these letters have been installed.

The shops of Diagon Alley can be glimpsed through the Leicester Square entrance.

Still, that won’t stop us from peeping through the construction fence.

Rumors

This week’s hottest rumor is word of small-scale testing of the Hogwarts Express attraction with selected guests. Apparently, a small number of people have been chosen to experience a test of certain effects inside the Hogwarts Express train cars. It seems they are selecting people with small children, presumably to see if the rumored Dementor encounter is too scary for kids. It’s worth noting that the trains stations are far from complete, and that any current tests only include a portion of the complete attraction.